Jack Fletcher is one of 16 nominees to. have been shortlisted for the 2022 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation (APEI).
APEI is Africa's biggest prize dedicated to engineering innovation. Fletcher is also the co-founder, director and chief technology officer of Hydrogen Energy Applications (HYENA), a University of Cape Town (UCT) spinoff company.
His work is at the forefront of an innovative invention called the HYENA POWER POD, a cell-based hydrogen generator that converts liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) into usable electricity within the same device.
The company is in the process of a second round of fundraising that will be sponsored by UCT's Evergreen Fund.
Fletcher spoke about what it meant to him to be nominated and what the prize would do for the future.
"Being selected for the shortlist of the prestigious Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation is a real honour. The prize will give HYENA access to business training, sector-specific mentorship and the academy's wide-ranging network of engineers and business experts," he said.
"Once again we have received an inspiring calibre of applications for the Africa Prize. This year's shortlist demonstrates how technology can be used to drive development from a grassroots level, and we look forward to supporting these innovators in expanding their impact across Africa," said Dr John Lazar CBE FREng, Africa Prize judge.
The Power Pod innovation aims to revolutionise electricity availability in poor-grid locations throughout Africa. Fletcher and his team identified LPG as an appropriate hydrogen carrier for electricity, as it is already used for cooking and heating on the continent.
"The use of existing LPG infrastructure makes the POWER POD a real solution that we believe can be truly transformative," said Fletcher.
Prior to the APEI nomination, the HYENA POWER POD worked closely with the Research Contracts and Innovation (RC&I) office at UCT. RC&I offers support services, fundraising assistance and helps to identify commercial opportunities that assist with any possible partners/sponsors.
"The team at RC&I had been extremely supportive throughout this time with their continued commitment to HYENA's success," said Fletcher.
